Drawer lock for desks and cabinets



Au 10 Q1926.

S. G. NORMAN DRAWER LOCK FOR DESKS AND CABINETS Filed March '7. 1925 Patented Aug. 10, 1926. i

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL G. NORMAN, OF JASPER, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR'OF ON E-HALF TO HOOSIER DESK COMPANY, OF JASPER, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

DRAWER LOOK FOR DESKS AND CABINETS.

Application fiIed March 7, 1925. Serial No. 13,805.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in drawer locks for desks and cabinets, and more particularly to a lock for the drawers that is so arranged that the latch lift will be prevented from canting or tipping while being operated to thus provide a lock arrangement which will give long and constant service.

Although the invention is shown as built in a sanitary type of desk it will be understood that the locking mechanism is so constructed that it will operate just as well with the old fashion roll top desk.

In a number of the different arrangements of locks for desk drawers, the various parts, from constant use, become loose or worn and the drawers are apt to be locked when they should be unlocked, and on the other hand, fail to lock when they are supposed to lock.

One of the objects, therefore, of the present invention, is to so construct; a locking means and to so arrange the same that the horizontal latch bar, which is attached to the vertical lock strip will be so mounted in the desk that it will be rigidly supported against canting or tipping, or in other words, will be guided in its upward and downward movement along its opposite side, thus providing a strong and rigid construction, and one which will give good service and constant service for a number of years.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a locking means and so arrange the same with relation to the drawers, that a portion of the upper part of the lock acts as a stop, so that when the vertical lock strip on which projects-the tongue fitting within the catch, is moved upwardly, its limit of upward movement will be regulated by the upper portion of the lock, thus relieving the strain on the tonguesand the catches on the drawers.

Still another object of the invent-ion is to so arrange the lock that the catches on the drawers may be set away from the edge of the drawers, and at the same time the horizontal latch bar which operates the vertical lock strip will be held against a canting or tipping which would soon weaken the different parts of the locking means.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a lock for the drawers which may be quickly'and easily assembled, relatively cheap to manufacture and. simple in opera tion.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1, the dotted line showing the position of the horizontal latch bar of the locking means, and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective showing the locking means cooperating with a catch on one drawer.

At the outset it might be mentioned that the desk shown in the drawing is of the sanitary type wherein} there will be two pedestals (one only being shown) over which there is placed a top having the usual center drawer and the locking means operated from the opposite sides of' the center drawer, and as the locking means and pedestals are the same in both instances, (the latch bars extending in the opposite directions) a description of one is a description of the other.

Referring now to the lock and then to its arrangement, there is shown a metal vertical lock strip 1 which may be of iron or steel from which extend the tongues 2, preferably stamped from the strip and extending at right angles thereto, the strip 1 being relatively wide and thin in section. Atthe upper end of this strip,-is a plate 3 which is preferably angular and provided with a slot 4 while a similar plate 5 forms the bearing for the lower end of the strip, this plate 5 being inverted with respect to the other plate. Securely riveted to the strip 1 and near its upper end, is the horizontal latch bar 6 which is also relatively large in width and is bent at right angles to itself as at 7, so that the inner end thereof 8 may be tightly riveted to the. bar 1. The point at which this latch bar 6 is riveted is of importance as its upper edge 9 at the inner end 8 is adapted to contact with the lower edge of the plate 3 when the vertical bar 1 has been raised to its proper upper limit.

Secured to the rear end of the center drawer 10 is a metal plate 11 having the latch lift is adapted to engage the. under.

edge of the latch bar 6 as the drawer approaches its innermost limit, whereas a continued inner movement of the drawer will" force the latch bar 6. upwardly,along.the,v angular incline of the latch'lift 12', the width" at the rear of the latch lift determining;

the upward limit of movement of the latch bar Sand natural y the locking. strip 1. file plate 3 also limits the upward movement of the strip l. v On the rear of each draweris a catch 13 which is adapted to be engaged by a tongue 2 on the vertical strip 1.

As far as the specification has proceeded, it will be seen that when the drawer 10 is forced inwardly, the vertical lock strip 1. through the medium of the latch lift 12 and latch bar 6 will cause the tongues 2 to engage the catches vl3 which are secured respectively to the rear ends of thedrawers 14, thus locking all of the drawers when thecenterdrawer 10 is in its normal. or closed position Anoutward.movement of vthe drawer permits the. strip 1 totfall by gravityand thu unlock the several drawers.,.

I Now the arrangementof this locking mechanism withregard(to the drawers is of imporuance in that reinforcing means are provided for presenting a maximum surface to theopposite sides of the latohbar 6 to prevent it from canting or tipping as not onlyisa slot cut through the panel or side of the pedestal, but additional slotted strips 15 areprovided which are nailed and gluedto the desk side. so that the latch bar 6 extends through a slot substantially from its one end to the other. Vi henthecenter draweris pushed inwardlyand outwardly, therefore, the latch bar 6 is vraised and lowered and at the same time prevented: from canting by the walls of theslot in the panel and reinforcing strip just mentioned.

T he vertical lock strip 1 is adaptedv to projeet beyond the upper surface of the plate a so that itmigzht be operated'by a roll top? and a small hole 16 is shown in one cornerof this plate to which might be at tachedaspring, (not shown) to therolltop,

From the foregoing. it will be seen that,

I haveprovided a drawer lock-wherein the several. parts are formed of metal and where1nthe movement of these cooperating parts will present a inetal-to-metal surface to thereby provideagainst' wear and to provide ease of operation;

Furthermore, the. latch bar is securely riveted to the locking strip and is relatively wide so,- that, it 7 can take up the strain throughout its Width at the same time it is prevented from ,lateralpstrains .orcanting by. operatingtin the long slot in the side panels and reinforcing strips, thus-provid ing a rigid construction. for the entire .100- inp' mechanism,

the way the reinforcing; strips arebuilt into the desk for supporting drawer guides, etc, forms the subject matter-of a separate companion application I amaware that itis old in the art to provide a locking: strip anda latch; and means for. raising the same, andt l dov notclaim the invention broadly as such,.butwhat I do claim however,-and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is:. r

In. a desl'nha pedestal,a plu-rality ofside drawers ain 7 said pedestal, center drawer adjacent the side drawers, reinforcing strips along theone sidetof thepedestahthe rein.- forcing strips and the side of the/pedestal having; a slot therein, a latch barvertically movable in said slot and prevented from canting substantially throughout its length by the side walls ofsaid slot, a bearing plate secured to one of said reinforcing strips and a vertical lock strip operable in said plate, the latch bar being bentat rightangles at its inner end and secured to said locl: strip, the said plate contacting with said latchbar when the, same is raised to its uppermost limit abearinn fort-he lower end of said lock-strip, catches secured to the rear of the sidedrawers and tongues-on said lock strip adapted f to engage the catches when the locking strip is raised, an angular plate secured to the rearof the center drawer for. forcing said .latch' bar upwardly to lock the drawers, and said latch s rip dropping by gravity tonunloclr the drawers when; the center lrawer ispulled outwardly.

In testimony whereof I 'afliX my signature.

SAMUEL'G. NOBEL-dbl. 

